Hungarian Media Monitor

Swiss multinational Ringier is giving a capital boost of HUF 750 million (roughly EUR 2.5 million) to the left-wing newspaper Népszabadság, Hungary’s top news daily, which is currently operating at a loss, HVG reports. Ringier’s decision comes after its failed deal to sell its majority shares of Népszabadság to the Szabad Sajtó Foundation, which is run by the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP). According to HVG, Ringier was trying to sell its shares of the paper so the Media Council would approve its merger with German media conglomerate Axel Springer. The Media Council blocked the merger last year, and according to HVG, it was rumored that the the Council informally agreed to clear the merger if Ringier sold its holdings of Népszabadság.

In order to avoid repeating mistakes made during this year's nomination for the recipient of the state’s top journalism prize, the Media Council will be responsible for selecting the winner of the Táncsics Prize in the future, according to a March 21 statement by Human Resources Minister Zoltán Balog. The announcement followed a week of controversy and protest over Balog’s March 14 decision to award the state's top journalism prize to far-right TV presenter Ferenc Szaniszló. Under mounting domestic and international criticism, Balog asked the journalist to return the prize.